Middle Market Investment Banking · Founded 2001

We sell
exceptional
companies.

Carleton McKenna & Co is a Cleveland-based investment bank retained exclusively by founders, owners, and operators in the middle market who have built something worth selling. They expect an advisor who treats it that way.

500+
Transactions Closed
21%+
Avg. Price Increase
$3B+
Transaction Value
Business-to-Business Services
Construction
Specialty Manufacturing & Industrials
Consumer
Business-to-Business Services
Construction
Specialty Manufacturing & Industrials
Consumer
Business-to-Business Services
Construction
Specialty Manufacturing & Industrials
Consumer
What We Do

Advisory built for
one purpose:
closing your deal.

Every engagement is led by senior bankers from first call to closing table. We run a focused number of mandates, and every process is custom-tailored to the client. Nothing here is templated. Our clients expect results, and we deliver them.
Paul H. Carleton Founder & Managing Partner
01
M&A Advisory

Exclusive sell-side representation for middle market companies. We run a disciplined, competitive process to surface the right buyer at the right price. Every engagement is custom-built for the client, not templated.

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02
Capital Advisory

When growth requires outside capital, we source and structure the right solution from the right partners: senior debt, subordinated financing, or equity. We know the lenders and investors who understand the middle market.

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03
Strategic Advisory

For owners not yet ready to transact: we benchmark your business against comparable transactions, identify value gaps, and build a roadmap so that when the moment comes, the process goes in your favor.

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In the Words of Our Clients

Trusted by founders,
families, and investors.

Carleton McKenna got us the price we were looking for. At the end of the day, I did not feel we left any money on the table.
Mike Malley Owner, Malley's Candies
The Carleton McKenna team was invaluable for bridging differences between the parties and was a force multiplier in getting this transaction completed.
Constantine Elefter Private Equity Partner, MPE Partners
If you don't use a professional organization like Carleton McKenna, you're going to struggle and it's going to be a long, drawn-out process. You might let a good opportunity pass by just because you didn't have the right partner.
Joe Schollaert CEO, AFIMAC Global
Select Recent Transactions

Examples of our
proven track record.

All Transactions →
Cleveland Electric Laboratories transaction tombstone

Leading manufacturer of high-temperature sensors for operationally-critical, demanding environments

Cleveland, OH
Mason Wells

Cleveland Electric Laboratories

Specialty Manufacturing
TestOil (Insight Services, Inc.) transaction tombstone

Industry-leading industrial oil and fluid analysis laboratory providing same-day turnaround testing services for energy, manufacturing, construction, and chemical processing clients

Cleveland, OH
Eurofins Scientific

TestOil (Insight Services, Inc.)

Specialty Manufacturing
McClintock Electric, Inc. transaction tombstone

Multi-generational electrical and technology contractor providing commercial, industrial, and residential electrical, networking, fire alarm, and access control services across Northern Ohio

Wooster, OH
Kelso Industries

McClintock Electric, Inc.

Construction
Warehouse Anywhere transaction tombstone

Service and platform managing thousands of corporate self-storage units (eg for pharma field sales)

Buffalo, NY
Argosy

Warehouse Anywhere

B2B Services
Emerald Built Environments transaction tombstone

Commercial construction and environmental services firm

Cleveland, OH
Strategic Acquirer

Emerald Built Environments

Construction
Malley's Candies, Inc. transaction tombstone

Treasured luxury chocolates brand with 18 retail locations in Northeast Ohio.

Lakewood, OH
Promise Holdings

Malley's Candies, Inc.

Consumer
Webster & Allor-Plesh transaction tombstone

Specialty manufacturing; advised Webster Industries & MPE Partners

Brighton, MI
MPE Partners

Webster & Allor-Plesh

Specialty Manufacturing
Webster Industries transaction tombstone

Industrial manufacturing; acquired by strategic buyer

Tiffin, OH
MPE Partners

Webster Industries

Specialty Manufacturing
AFIMAC Global transaction tombstone

Security firm offering crisis response, investigations, and business continuity

Strongsville, OH
New State Capital Partners

AFIMAC Global

B2B Services
Commercial Fluid Power transaction tombstone

Integrated value-added distributor of tubing and bar products for fluid power applications

Dover, OH
National Tube Supply

Commercial Fluid Power

Specialty Manufacturing
Millman Land Services transaction tombstone

National full-scale land survey provider

Canton, OH
CBRE (NYSE: CBRE)

Millman Land Services

B2B Services
Precision Component Industries transaction tombstone

Precision-machined specialty component manufacturer for aerospace, defense, automotive, and energy applications, specializing in high-precision, low-volume complex configurations

Canton, OH
Ohio Gratings, Inc.

Precision Component Industries

Specialty Manufacturing
Premier Hydraulics, LLC transaction tombstone

Value-added manufacturer and distributor of custom-machined components, fittings, valves, and manifolds for industrial equipment OEMs

Farrell, PA
PTR Group

Premier Hydraulics, LLC

Specialty Manufacturing
Service-Tech Corporation transaction tombstone

NADCA-certified industrial cleaning provider specializing in air duct, HVAC, industrial oven, and exhaust cleaning services for commercial and industrial facilities

Cleveland, OH
GT Entreprenuers

Service-Tech Corporation

B2B Services
Sharpe Engineering transaction tombstone

Project management and engineering solutions for food processing clients

Madison, WI
Cornerstone Industrial Group

Sharpe Engineering

B2B Services
FormFire transaction tombstone

SaaS and digital integrator for small business health insurance providers

Cleveland, OH
AgencyBloc (Resurgens Technology Partners)

FormFire

B2B Services
If you are considering a sale,
the conversation starts here.

We work with a select number of clients each year. Introductory conversations are confidential and carry no obligation. Reach out to discuss your business and your goals.

Begin a Conversation